From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has dissociated itself from the recent decision of the Church of England to approve same-sex marriage for the people.
Primate of Anglican Church, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, stated the position of the Church of Nigeria at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Divine Commonwealth Conference (DIVCCON 2024), in Abuja, on Tuesday, with the theme “Peace, Be Still”.
He explained that DIVCCON is the Church of Nigeria’s Annual Conference in which they come as God’s people and servants to share in fellowship, prayer and be taught of the Lord and be renewed in faith, hope and love as they live and serve the LORD.
However, he stated that, though, the Church of Nigeria might have contrary view in such a sensitive matter, but it does not affect the cordial relationship of the Church of Nigeria with the Church of England.
He said: “The Church of England has derailed in faith. They have not only voted to approve same-sex marriage, but the Liturgy for the celebration of such rebellion against God.
“A few weeks ago, we were in the UK with other Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) leaders to consult with the Alliance and other Evangelical and Orthodox leaders of the Church to encourage them and work with them to have a safe and faithful spiritual Home to continue their Mission and Ministry of the Kingdom of God.
“The Church of Nigeria will stand and work with GAFCON to uphold Biblical Orthodoxy and Faithfulness in proclamation of the Gospel and maintaining our cherished Anglican Heritage. On these, there is no turning back.
“When evil seems to prevail, many people grapple with the idea of God being in control of the world. Beloved in Christ, God is still in control of the work of His hands. He has not abdicated His responsibility to humans. He is sovereign and rules in the affairs of men. We must maintain a firm faith that God is in complete control, even in the face of evil.
“Our faith provides comfort and assurance that God’s goodness will prevail, even when the world seems chaotic. Challenges and adversity are part of the fire of the furnace to burn off the chaff in our lives as believers. Adversity serves as God’s means for spiritual growth and maturity. It strengthens our faith, builds our character, and draws us closer to God.”
President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh represented by the Director of Ecumenism and Interfaith, CAN The Ven. Dr. Princewill Ireoba, in his goodwill message, congratulated the Church of Nigeria for the 2024 DIVCCON.
He said: “CAN is committed to promoting peace, unity, and justice in our nation, and we encourage the Church to stand as a beacon of Christ’s love and hope. We live in times of profound challenges, politically, economically, and socially, that test our resilience and faith. Yet, it is in such storms that the Lord calls us to remember His sovereignty, to trust in His words, and to know that His peace surpasses all understanding.
“The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), through gatherings such as DIVCCON, plays an indispensable role in strengthening this mission, guiding believers in their walk with God, and championing values that build a just and compassionate society.
“In these turbulent times, the role of the Church as a vessel of peace, hope, and healing cannot be overstated. We must be united in our mission to reflect Christ’s love, to serve others, and to spread the message of reconciliation and peace to our communities.”